Saturday, September 27, 2014

Greg Crawford On Basketball, For September 27th, 2014

By Gregory Crawford--TV, Print and Radio Basketball Analyst---on twitter @wchoops @crawssportsbiz @kcsportsmgmtNBA----As the NBA heads out on its 2014-15 season, here are some issues for all to watch and some things I will be watching for sure.

1. How will the Cleveland Cavaliers do, with the addition of the best basketball player in the game and super star Kevin Love? Will Dave Blatt be able to coach these guys, the way he is expected to do so and also it will be interesting to see how LeBron plays with his weight loss.

2. Is Doc Rivers really worth $10 million per year as a coach. I will tell you this, if you pay someone that kind of money in the NBA as a coach, they better be in the Finals each and every year, end of story.

3. Will these 3 coaches be around in 2015-16. Monty Williams of New Orleans, Mike Malone of Sacramento and yes, Kevin McHale of Houston. It is safe to say, all 3 are on the hot seat.

4. What will the new NBA TV deal be like? Almost certain to be announced soon and will be in effect starting with the 2016-17 season, it will have a major impact on the NBA player's association and if they consider to opt out of the collective bargaining agreement in 2017, as the contract would allow them to do.

5. It will be an interesting season for the Miami Heat. Erik Spoelstra will have his work cut out for him, losing the best player in the world, but the Heat also have a really good club and have lots to prove. Miami will never be bad with Spoelstra as the coach, he is that good.

6. My surprise and somewhat shocking thing to look for in 2015-16 will be if the Portland Trail Blazers can make the NBA Finals. Yes, I am predicting them to play Chicago in the Finals. As well, there is some pressure on Terry Stotts, to move this team further down the line in the playoffs, way beyond the first round, as they are that good.

7. Will NBA players stay out of any kind of trouble? Hopefully they can learn some lessons, as they should from the NFL and beyond.

8. How much of an impact will Phil Jackson have as the leader of the Knicks? It is time for basketball to return to New York City and not Brooklyn, but Brooklyn has the edge.

9. Finally, as I like to keep things in 9s, will we see some movement in 2014-15 to see an NBA franchise back in Seattle before the end of this decade.